Julia talking with MileSplit Nationals Travis Miller after Foot Locker
The MileSplit National team traveled to San Diego this past weekend for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. After the race Travis Miller caught up with Julia Heymach for a reflection on her season. It was a season filled with several big wins, as well as many learning experiences.
The Cross Country Grind
Heymach, Patel, and Guidry running at the Texas A&M Meet Photo By: Marisa Heymach
This year Heymach had a shorter cross country season then other runners, but that didn't stop her from making a big splash. Not starting until late September, she came in well rested and ready to run. Her first race was at Texas A&M where she was faced off against some of the state's best in Houston Memorial's Khayla Patel, and Kingwood's Abby Guidry. In her 2015 cross country debut Heymach came away with the win, running 16:42 for 3 Miles. She followed it up with another win by over :30 seconds at Nike South. Those two race would be her only regular season performances.
She started off championship season with yet another win at the District 20 meet, but running in Region 3 posed more of a challenge. "Region was my first race were I couldn't believe the mud that we had at Region, it was just crazy for me!" explained Heymach. "The mud was really deep so your foot would go deep into the mud, (the mud) pulled off my shoe, I just had my sock flopping around for a big part of it. Half of it was really bad, I was really sore after that race."
Heymach running with one shoe at the Region 3 meet Photo By: Jennifer White
Despite the challenging conditions, racing in only one shoe for the last mile Heymach came away with the win. She said that with those challenges came many lessons. "I think that puts it in to perspective like what a lot of other athletes are dealing with a lot harder courses," explained Heymach. "You have to go into it with a positive outlook, and try to just compete because everyone's going through the same conditions, to try to compete as well as you can, and to go in with a good outlook you know thats part of cross country."
With the positive mentality, and experience from Region 3 she went into the state meet ready to run. This would be her biggest challenge yet having to face the best girls in the state. Yet again she showed up big.
Heymach claimed the class 6A title, which she said was one of the high points of her season. "The state meet was definitely a highlight it was my first cross country title so that was pretty cool," she said.
Completing the regular and championship seasons undefeated Heymach was ready to tackle the nationalscene. Despite being a top NXN returner she opted to run Foot Locker instead. The decision paid off when she finished 5th at Foot Locker South, earning a trip to San Diego.
No stranger to a national caliber race, Heymach got out hard running well in the pack though two miles. After that things began to break down."The problem wasn't really much of a strategic error or anything like that it was just kind of like I was feeling pretty bad after two miles," explained Heymach. "Then everything just kind of went down hill from there."
Heymach ended up placing 36th in the race, but said overall she was happy with how the season played out. "They're all experiences that you can learn from, I'm going to be able to think about these races later and kind of draw strength from it," explained Heymach. "This whole experience has been really fun, it's just like a blessing to be able to compete here. Foot Locker is such a great race and everyone here is really talented so, I feel honored to compete with all of these girls."
Racing
aside she said the experience
, and friendships she's made at the national meet were invaluable. "It's been great, it's been really fun to meet up with all these other athletes their all really great," said Heymach. "The South team we're like a family now, its been really fun to hang out with them, San Diego is really beautiful and we've had a lot of fun here!"
Even in the race she said it was nice to have her new South teammates by her side. "I was running for a good two miles with Libby and that was really nice to just be able to run by her knowing that she's part of my team," explained Heymach. "She wants me to do well and (I) also know that she's a really strong runner and so (if) I stayed with her I could finish pretty high. It didn't end up that way but I think its really nice to be able to root for not just yourself but the whole team."
Although things didn't end exactly the way she wanted this cross country season Heymach remains positive for what's to come. "The race didn't go how I wanted it to, a little disappointing but I have to keep my head high because I've had a good season overall, I've gotten stronger then I was last year," explained Heymach. "I have a lot to look forward to in track in indoor track and outdoor track, so I'm excited for everything that's coming."
The Houston Lamar junior has no plans on slowing down anytime too soon, as the indoor season is about to get into full swing. "I think this year I might try a couple more indoor races I'm not exactly sure yet, but we might try to carry my fitness more from cross country into track this year and take like a little bit less of a break," she said.
One of the big Indoor highlights for Heymach last year was at New Balance Nationals Indoor when she placed 3rd in the 2 Mile running 10:23.2. It's a race she looks forward to running again. "I think I just did like one indoor meet and then two weeks later I went to New Balance Indoor," she said. "I definitely want to do New Balance Indoor again that was really fun and I think it's really good to go into a really competitive race towards the beginning of outdoor season."
Not only does Heymach have some of the top indoor times in the state she is the top distance outdoor track returner as well. Last year she broke the 6A State Record in the 1600m running 4:40.97, and was only
a second off the state 3200m record. According to Heymach being the top returner will come with some good and bad. "It's exciting having more people looking at you it's also a little stressful," she explained. "I think overall it's a good thing to have like a little bit of pressure and have to deal with it...I'm excited."
She says even with the pressure it's just about doing your best. "There are more expectations now definitely, there's a little bit more pressure, but I still think I'm going to go into races just trying to do my best, try not to think to much about what people expect me to do and try and just like... if I keep my training really good and just try to do the best I can, I'll be happy with that," Heymach said.
Heymach will have to be firing on all cylinders heading into outdoor if she looks to reclaim her state titles. Several of the states top distance runners will be challenging for her State Titles. One competitor she's excited to face off against is Paige Hofstad, who's dealt with injuries the past two seasons. "I'm really excited for Paige to start running again, thats going to be really good hopefully she'll be really healthy," she said. "She's a really good friend of mine, I'm always rooting for her. I really hope she'll be healthy this track season and we can go to big meets together and it will be really good for us to push each other this year, so yeah thats exciting."
Despite who the competition is or any though of added presser Heymach seemed calm and ready to face the challenges ahead. "I'm really excited for outdoor track and getting good times and trying to get into big races and hopefully get PR's," she explained.
Completing the regular and championship seasons undefeated Heymach was ready to tackle the national
Racing aside she said the experience, and friendships she's made at the national meet were invaluable. "It's been great, it's been really fun to meet up with all these other athletes their all really great," said Heymach. "The South team we're like a family now, its been really fun to hang out with them, San Diego is really beautiful and we've had a lot of fun here!"
Not only does Heymach have some of the top indoor times in the state she is the top distance outdoor track returner as well. Last year she broke the 6A State Record in the 1600m running 4:40.97, and was only a second off the state 3200m record. According to Heymach being the top returner will come with some good and bad. "It's exciting having more people looking at you it's also a little stressful," she explained. "I think overall it's a good thing to have like a little bit of pressure and have to deal with it...I'm excited."
